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Boulder is a remote town situated near the base of Boulder Mountain and close to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. According to a 2017 estimate, around 152 people, many of which are artists, live in the vast 20-square-mile city. It holds a rich Anasazi and settlement history, as well as some of the state’s most beautiful and rugged terrain.
Showing just how isolated it once was—Boulder claims to be the last town in the continental U.S. to receive its mail by mule train. While it used to be difficult to visit, Boulder is now an easy and worthwhile stop when traveling to or from one of many state or national parks within reasonable driving distance:
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park features colorful deposits of mineralized wood and dinosaur bones. The 130-acre Wide Hollow Reservoir on the park's boundary adds water recreation and fishing.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin is a spectacle of massive sandstone chimneys, ever-changing from gray and white to shades of red with the day's mood. Numerous rocks and coves offer solitude, quiet and unique desert beauty. Sixty-seven monolithic stone spires called sedimentary pipes accentuate multi-hued sandstone layers revealing 180 million years of geologic time.
Capitol Reef National Park
The Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth's crust known as a monocline, extends from nearby Thousand Lakes Mountain to the Colorado River (now Lake Powell). Capitol Reef National Park was established to protect this grand and colorful geologic feature, as well as the unique historical and cultural history found in the area.
Boulder’s Anasazi State Park shelters the ruins of a large Native American community which may have been home to as many as 200 people. Visit the museum to see artifacts from this site, then explore the ancient ruins yourself.
While in Boulder, be sure to visit Calf Creek Falls, which is just 11 miles outside of city limits. In the late 1800s, the falls were used as a natural pen for calves, but these days attracts hikers eager to see ancient rock art, beaver ponds, and stunning mineral-streaked cliffs. Tourists can take their pick between the Upper Falls or Lower Falls, which both provide picturesque waterfalls.
For those looking to stay a night or two, there are a few lodging and dining options in Boulder.
Lodging:
Rustic Cabin in Beautiful Boulder
Dining:
Nearby Lodging:
Getting to Boulder:
Boulder is located along highway 12, one of Utah’s Scenic Byways. This scenic byway was named an “All American Road” in 2002, due to the spectacular scenic landscapes along its route. From Torrey Utah, travelers will travel through Boulder Mountain and the Dixie National Forest. This route will climb some 9600 feet in elevation and provide views of the Waterpocket Fold of Capital Reef National Park. Other points of interest include the Larb Hollow Overlook and the Homestead overlook.
From U.S. 89 near Panquitch Utah, travelers will travel near Bryce Canyon National Park, and through several small towns including, Tropic, Cannonville, Henrieville, and Escalante, Utah. Points of interest include the Red Canyon Visitor Center, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Upper Valley Graineries, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Calf Creek Falls, Calf Creek Viewpoint, and the Hogback.
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